Cisneros on target as USA U-15s finish strong at Torneo delle Nazioni

By Sam Kovzan, 05/05/19, 4:45PM CDT

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Sporting Kansas City Academy forward Osvaldo Cisneros (No. 17 pictured above) helped the United States U-15 Boys’ National Team to two victories and a shootout win this week at the prestigious Torneo delle Nazioni in Gradisca, Italy.

Cisneros’ successful tournament campaign was highlighted by a goal in the USA’s 3-0 defeat of India to open Group C action last Sunday. After the Americans lost 1-0 to Slovenia and 3-0 to Mexico in the final two group stage contests, Cisneros and the U.S. bounced back in the consolation bracket.

On Thursday, the U.S. battled England to a 1-1 draw before prevailing 5-3 on penalty kicks. Cisneros and the U-15s then ended the competition on a winning note with a 2-1 triumph over Norway on Saturday.

Cisneros was part of a 19-player roster as the USA U-15s gathered for their first competitive matches of the year. The squad used the Torneo delle Nazioni as preparation for this summer’s 2019 Concacaf U-15 Boys’ Championship.

A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Cisneros follows in the footsteps of two current Sporting KC Academy products that have featured in previous editions of the Torneo delle Nazioni. In 2017, midfielder Gianluca Busio scored twice and led the Americans to the tournament title. Last year, forward Tyler Freeman helped the U.S. to a third-place finish after going unbeaten in the group stage.

Cisneros, 15, earned his first call to the U.S. U-15 BNT in January 2018. He has split time between the Sporting KC U-15s and U-17s during the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, starting regularly for the U-15s while also making three league appearances at the U-17 level.

Cisneros has played in 16 Development Academy matches this season for the Sporting KC U-15s, who occupy second place in the Central Conference’s Frontier Division with a 12-2-2 record. He ranks second on the team with 11 goals, having also scored recently in the Central Regional Showcase and Generation adidas Cup qualifying.